How to prepare for your newly adopted dog

It is very difficult to predict exactly what to expect when you adopt a dog. This depends solely on previous experiences of dog life, existing training (if any) and if he/she was ill treated or abused.

It is very common that when adopting, away you do not know the life history of the dog, so the old cliche rings true here; "expect the worst, but hope for the best".

The key is in the works. This article will highlight some must-dos (and a couple of-nots!) throughout the adoption process dogs hopefully doing a little easier adoption!

Stack up on supplies

Make sure you purchase the necessary supplies before you get your adopted home. The basic supplies you will need every dog adopted are:

Bowls for water and foodAn tag ID including name, address and telephone numberA decent Bede brush (like the FURminator) collar and leash ** a reliable brand of food (kibble and bits not!!!)

** Don't buy any food whose first ingredient is by-products; actually we stay away from any dog food with any by-products listed. We settled on the natural choice, who also loves our adopted dog, Loki, dry. Plus is a very healthy mixture of proteins and fats.

Assign responsibility

If you have never had a dog before, there are regular tasks required to keep your dog happy and healthy adopted. Break these responsibilities between the family, so everyone knows who is responsible for:

Nutrition and making sure there is plenty of waterRegular exercise! This will stop the little angel finding mischief as he will be too tired!Grooming-cutting back on shedding around houseShopping-keep up with food, toys and drugs such as heart worm pills and medicineVeterinary flea visits-schedule them into a calendar with reminders-usually once a year for shots and a general health checkup

Set limits and boundaries

It's going to be very tempting to allow the recently adopted dog from jumping on furniture and sleep on your bed. Let's face it, there's nothing cuter that settles in bed with your head resting on your dog. However, I wouldn't recommend this in the early stages of adoption-these things should be off-limits.

The reason is, if not the set limits, a dog generally will do as it wants. Still, there is no establishment of rental-sore, and it is quite common for the dog try to establish the dominance-a practice adopted by dogs in the wild.

An example is marking its territory; I don't think anyone wants to come home to a wet bed!

If the dog tries to jump or push the limits, quietly tell the dog "no", or "get down". Reward the dog with a treat when he/she complies. The dog very soon able to recognize that food and treats to come to you-a solid approach and much more productive to establish a rental-stiffness of reproach or berating the dog-strongly discourage approaches with any dog adopted.

Dog training

The level and frequency of training depends on the adopted. It is quite common for a dog adopted not to accept voice commands, even if he or she recognizes them during the early days of adoption. He/she is scared, anxious and nervous all rolled into one. Let your puppy get accommodated with their new home and family.

I would leave this knowledge for period not more than 3 days. It is important to start obedience training as soon as possible, but especially where dogs adopted are concerned, there is no such thing as push them too hard, too fast.

During those 3 days, be patient, loving and attentive to your needs for dogs-this will accelerate considerably the dogs trust and familiarity with you and its environment – absolutely no yelling, scolding or punishment-only reinforcement company and treating the dog once he/she complies.